Siphon apparatus



Jan. 20, 1931. A. DAVIS. JR 1,789,864

S IPHON APPARATUS Filed Sept. '28, 1928 a Sheets-Sheet 1 2 uvl izvrokfi2 ATTZ ZNEY Jan.20, 1931. ADAWS, JR 1,789,864

S IPHON APPARATUS Filed Sept. .28.- 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VE'N 7016'M q I M m I AT'ORA'EY A. DAVIS, JR

SIPHON APPARATUS Jan. 20, 1931.

28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet x000 xom kmxuam Wm Filed Sept.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY mEDL 53cm v=5u E moon xom 553m It; 33355.

w m m Patented Jan. i0, 1931 AUGUSTINE DAVIS, 31%., OF CINCINNATI, OHIOSIPHON APPARATUS Application filed September 28, 1928.; Serial No309,105.

The invention relates to siphon apparatus. V Siphonic discharge asapplied to-multiple compartment tanks, such as the tanks oi tank trucks,is now carried outin the following 6 manner. Conduits extend upward fromnear the bottoms of the several compartments to a point above the liquidlevel, whence they are carried downward for a distance to join a commonconduit or manifold running lengthwise oi the series of compartments,the delivery hose being attached to the rear end of this common conduit.Flow is started in this branched siphon by means of a hand pump placedin a by-pass of the outer portion of the rommon conduit, a manuallyoperated valve being placed in parallel with the pump, and a check-valvebeing placed in the conduit beyond the pump. Inorder to withdraw liquidfrom one of the compartments and not from others it is necessary toprovidevalves for the several branches ofthe siphon, which can be openedand closed independently. The compartments contain measured quantitiesor liquid, and in order to avoid delivering either more or less than theproper amount to a customer, it obviously necessary that all branches ofthe siphon but the one from which a delivery is being made be tightlyclosed.

Furthermore, starting the siphonic flow by a hand pump is made moredifficult, or impossible, and the flow, when started, may stop, if thereare leaks in the siphon or around the valves. The operativeness of sucha plan is dependent, therefore-,on the tightness of these valves, whichas usually located have to be tight, not against liquid, but againstair. The valves some times are not tight, or it originally tight may notremain so.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more satisfactorysiphon system, in which the siphons of the several tank chamhers areindependent in respect to starting, or at least not dependent on thetightness of large valves in the siphons between the suction producingmeans and the compartments. A single exhausting or suction producingmeans is employed, with means for operatively connecting it with any oneof the 0 siphons, and a common discharge conduit is preferably providedfor permanent connection of a hose. The several siphon lines areprovided, beyond the points of connection with the exhausting means,with checkvalves, or other suitable valves, for preventing the inflow ofair whenthe siphon isbeing started.

While it is true that these valves should be tight, which is even'morenecessary in the case of the single check valve of the existing system,there is an. advantage in providing each siphon line with its checkvalve, since if one of V thesevalves should leak it \v uld afliect onlyone siphon and not others. I

lhe provisions for operatively connecting the exhausting means with thesiphons may be varied. They preferably comprise permanent suction linesconnecting the exhausting means with the several siphons at pointsbetween the air-excluding valves and the tank chambers, together withvalve means for opening any one of the suction lines, the othersremaining closed. i

Vith such an arrangemei'r; I provide a selective valve control capableof opening, or permitting the opening, of any one of the suction linesto thecxclusion of others, thcrcby guarding against discharging thecontents of more than one tank chamber at a time. v I

Furthermore, I provide a selective control tor-the air-excluding valves.

In the e.. sting system, gasoline is drawn through the pump at thebeginning of flow. In accordance with my invention, the eX- haustingmeans is not in the path of liquid flow. 1 I provide means which iscontrolled by the liquid to shut off the communication to the exhaustingmeans, Whatever its nature, automatically, so that the liquid does notenter or passthrough the exhauster.

Another object of the invention is to obviate the laboriousoperation oiworking hand exhaust pump to start the siphon. To this end I provide avacuum chamber, which can be exhausted either by power pump on t hevehicle at a time when deliveries are not being made, or which can beexhausted before the truck starts on its rounds. his chamber isconnected with the siphons to exhaust air therefrom, and constitutes areservoir of potential energy sufiicient for numerous siartings.

Other aspects of the invention, however, are not necessarily limited tothe use of a vacuum reservoir, and the term exhausting means in theclaims is intended to cover either such a chamber or a pump.

Other features of the invention will be described in the body of thespecification.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck tank embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view principally in vertical section, at the top ofone of the siphons;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation looking at the face of the control-box,part of the wall of the control-box and most of its door being brokenout to show parts within, and an enclosure in the interior being alsopaitly broken away.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the tank with most of its intermediatepart broken out, the control-box being broken away and in sec tion; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic View.

The drawing represents a truck tank 2 divided by partitions 3 into anumber of separate chambers 4. At the rear end there is a control box 5having a door 6.

Pipes 7 extend upward from points near the bottom of the severalchambers & to points above the liquid level. These siphon lines arepreferably carried to the rear end and down into the box 5, where theyare marked 8.

In the lower part of the box there is a com mon pipe 9, to which all thesiphon lines are connected, the end of this pipe having a connection towhich a delivery hose 10 is at tached.

11 is a vacuum chamber or reservoir of.

suflicient size, which maybe located in the box or elsewhere. 12 is asuction line entering the vacuum chamber, and 13 are branches to theseveral siphon pipes 8. The siphon lines are normally closed off fron'ithe vacuum chamber by spring-closed valves 1 1 placed in the severalsuction lines 13.

This valve means is of a selective nature, or of such nature that any.one of the valves can be opened, but not more than one at a time. Inthe arrangement illustrated, an operating lever 15 is slidable along ashaft 16 to any one of a number of positions, in which it can be rockedto act upon any one of the valves 14 and not upon others, a shield orenclosure 17 being preferably provided to guard against undesired accessto the valves.

The vacuum chamber has a line 18 which with the exhausting means, thesecheck valves i bein ada ited to close automaticall to inflow of air andto open automatically to outflow of liquid. The said valves may havelight springs 2 1, and are located between the suction lines 13 and thecommon discharge pipe 9.

Means are preferably provided for holding these check valves closedagainst liquid flow and for pern'iitting any one of them to be released.at a time, the others continuing to be held closed. In other words, asin the case of the valves 14, a selective control is preferably arrangedfor. The particular construction may be widely varied. Each of thebodies 25 of the check-valves is shown provided with a rock-shaft 26passing through a stalling-box and carrying arms 27 and 28, inside andoutside the valve-body, respectively. The arm 27 is positioned so thatitmay bear against the valve stem to hold the valve forcibly to its seatunder the action of a strong spring 29 connected to the arm 28. Anoperating lever 30 slidable along a shaft 31 is adapted to act on anyone of the arms 28, to the exclusion of others. A suitable catch whichcan be engaged with the lever 30 will hold any one of the springs 29 outof action, leaving the corresponding valve free to open to outflow ofliquid.

2' The connections 13 from the siphon lines 8, tlirough'whic-h air isexhausted from these lines, are provided with float-valves 34 whichclose automatically on the arrival of liquid, so as to prevent theliquid reaching the chamber 11 or the pump.

he chamber 11 is provided with a valved drain pipe 35, which, as amatter of convenience, may enter the discharge pipe 9. This drain may beopened occasionally to draw oif any condensation of vapors.

The operation of the system as described thus far will be evident. Thechamber 11 having been previously exhausted to a suficiently lowpressure or partial vacuum, one of the check-valves 23 is unlocked orreleased, the'others remaining locked or held closed by powerful springpressure. Then the corresponding suction valve l is opened.

Air is thereby exhausted from the siphon line of the tank chamber whichit is desired to empty, and the siphonic flow is started. lVhile theterm exhausted or exhausting is used in this connect-ion, it Will beunderstood that it is necessary to reduce the pressure in the siphononly suiiiciently to enable atmospheric pressure to raise the liquidover the highest point of the siphon. By means of the vacuum tank thisis accomplished very quickly and without effort on the part of theattendant.

As soon as the liquid reaches the float valve 34, this valve closes, andthe attendant then closes the valve 14, or permits that valve to closeunder the action of its spring. The check-valve 23, which closed againstthe inflow of air, automatically opens to allow the liquid to flowthrough into the discharge pipe 9 and thence into the hose.

Manifestly, the check-valve 23 need not be released until after theliquid has arrived at this valve and has closed the float-valve 34.

The discharge pipe is provided with a shut-off valve 36.

Certain of the aspects of the invention are not limited to theemployment of a. vacuum chamber. It will. be understood, therefore, thatthis chamber may be omitted with its advantages, and that the hand pumpmay be connected directly with the suction line It is not desirable tohave the engine of the vehicle running while deliveries are being made,or are about to be made, but a power pump driven from some source ofpower other than the engine might be directly connected with this line,if the vacuum chamber is not used.

It is customary to provide siphons with siphon-breaker valves. I haveillustrated a special arrangement designed for the present system andhaving certain features of novelty.

Two sets of siphon-breaker lines are connected with the upper portionsof the si phons 7, 8. One siphon-breaker line 37 extends rearward fromeach siphon into the control-box 5, there being as many of these linesasthereare tank chambers. The other set of siphon-breaker lines 38, eachconnected with a different siphon, extend forwardly to the region of thefront end of the tank, or to the vehicle cab. At the rear ends of thelines 3?, inside the box, are valves 39. These valves have handles 40for manual operation, which handles are in such relation to the door 6that when the door is closed the valves 39 must all be open. lVhen thecontrol-box door is opened preparatory to making a delivery, theattendant must close the siphonbreaker valve 39 pertaining to the siphonof the tank chamber from which the delivery is to be made. The othervalves 39 are left open.

A thermal device 41 is associated with the valves 39, or with partsoperatively related thereto, so as to bring about automatically, in caseof fire, the opening of any ofthese valves that may be closed at thetime. The device illustrated comprises a movable part 42 in operativerelation to the handles 40, a sufficiently strong spring urging thispart, a. trigger 44 restraining the part against movement, and a.fusible element 45 holding the trigger. lVhen the element 45 is fused,thespring 43 is released to cause the part 12 to act on the lover of anyone or more of the valves 39 that may be closed,- to open them.

The siphon-breaker lines 38 have valves 46 at their'forward ends. Thesevalves are ordinarily closed,-whereas thoseat the rear end areordinarily open. The valves 46 have handles 47 so that any or all ofthem can be quickly opened in case of emergency. Furthermore, a thermaldevice 50, similar to the thermal device 41, is provided for bringingabout automatically the opening of these valves in event of fire ordangerous heat at this region. a

A feature notheretofore referred to is the provision of check valves 48in the upper portions of the uptake limbs 7 of the sipho-ns.

These valves may be in the form of fairly heavy balls resting at adistance below seats 49, against which they will close in event of thetank overturning. They are not affected either by suction in startingthe siphon action or by the flow of liquid while a delivery is beingmade.

What I claim as new is: 1

1. In a system for dischargingliquid from any-one of the plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons havi' uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a. common dischargeconduit connected with the doWnta-ke limbs i of all the siphons, meansfor exhausting air from the siphons, and means for operativelyconnecting the aforesaid means ith any one of the siphons at points inthe several siphons between the common conduit and the tank chambers. qI

2. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plural ty of sipho-ns having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischaiconduit connected with'the downtake lim Jh of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, means for operatively connecting theaforesaid means with any one of the siphonsat points in the severalsiphons between the common conduit and the tank chambers, and valvemeans for closing each siphon against entrance of air and againstintercomn'iunication with v other siphons through the common conduitwhile air is being exhausted from the siphon. V

3. In a system for discharging liquid from any one. of the plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptake,limbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the dovvntake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, means for operatively con necting theaforesaid means with any one of the sipho-ns at points in the severalsiphons between the common conduit and the tank chambers, valves in theseveral siphon lines between said points and the common conduit,

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and a. selective means for operating the valve of any line to theexclusion of others.

4. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs connnunicating with the several tank chambers, a commondischargeconduit connected with the downtake limbs of all the siphons,means for exhausting air from the siphons, means for operativelyconnecting the aforesaid means with any one of the siphons at points inthe several siphons between the common conduit and the tank chambers,automatic check valves in the several siphon lines between said pointsand the common conduit adapted to close against inflow of air and toopen to outflow of liquid, means for holding said check valves closedagainstouttlow of liquid, and means for releasing the check valve of anyline so that said valve will open to the outflow of liquid.

5. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the downtake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, means for operatively connecting theaforesaid means with any one of the siphons at points in the severalsiphons between the common conduit and the tank chambers, automaticcheck valves in the sev= eral siphon lines between said points and thecommon conduit adapted to close against inflow of air and to open tooutflow of liquid, means for holding said check valves closed againstoutflow of liquid, and an operating device capable of releasingthe checkvalve of any one of said lines to the exclusion others. V

6. In a system for discharging liquid from any one oi a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having upta relimbs connnunicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the downtake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, and valved suction lines connectingsaid means with the several siphons at points letween the common conduitand th tank chambers.

'7. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the downtake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, suction lines connecting said meanswiththe several siphons at points between the common conduit and the tankchambers, valves in said suction lines, and a selective means forbringing about opening of the valve of any one of said suction lines tothe exclusion of others.

8. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the downt'ake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons. suction lines connecting said meanswith the several siphons at points between the common conduit and thetank chambers, valves in said suction lines, a selective means forbringing about opening of the valve of any one of said lines to theexclusion of others, valves in the several siphon lines between thesuction lines and the common conduit, and a selective means for bringingabout opening of any oneof the last-named valves to the exclusion ofothers.

9. Ina system for discharging liquid from any one oi a plurality of tankchambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptake limbscommunicating with the several tank chambers, means for exhausting airfrom the siphons, a plurality of suction lines connecting said meanswith the several siphons, and valve means controlling said suction linesso that any one of them can be opened.

10. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, means for exhaustingair from the siphons, a plurality of suction lines connecting said meanswith the several siphons, and a selectivevalve means for opening any oneof said suction lines to the exclusion of others. 7

11. In a system for discharging liquid from any one or" a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, means for exhaustingair tromthe siphons, a plurality of suction lines connecting saidmeansvwith the several siphons, a selective valve means for bringingabout opening of any one of said suction lines-to the exclusion ofotaers, valves in the siphon lines at points beyond said suction lines,and a selective means for bringing, about opening of any one of thelast-namcd alves to the exclusion of others.

12. In a systen'i for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, means for exhaustingair from the siphons, means for operatively connectingthe aforesaidmeans with anyone of the siphons, valves in the siphon lines beyond thepoints of connection for said exhausting means, and a selective controlfor said valves. I

13. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, means for exhaustingair from the siphons, means for operatively connecting the aforesaidmeans with any one of the siphons, check valves in the siphon linesbeyond the points of connection for said exhausting means, means forholding said check valves closed against outflow of liquid, and aselective means for releasing any one of said check valves to theexclusion of others so that it will open to the outflow of liquid.

14. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftankchambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs connnunicating with the several tank chambers, means forexhausting air from the siphons, means for operatively connecting theaforesaid means with any one of the siphons, and means influenced by thearrival of liquid for automatically closing the communication betweenany of the siphons and said exhausting means.

15. 4 In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a vacuum chamberwith means for exhausting the same and means for holding the vacuum inthe chamber, and means for operatively connecting any one of the siphonswith said vacuum chamber.

16. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a. plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a vacuum chamberwith means for exhausting the same and means for holding vacuum in thechamber, means for operatively connecting any one of the siphons withsaid vacuum chamber, and means influenced by the arrival of liquid forautomatically closing the communication between any siphon and thevacuum chamber.

17. The combination with a tank, of asl-c phon communicating therewith,a rigid walled vacuum chamber of sufficient capacity for numerousoperations of the siphon, means for exhausting said chamber, means forholding vacuum therein, means for operatively connecting said. chamberwith the siphon, and

means controlled by the liquid thus drawn from the body of liquid in thetank for automatically bringing about the closing of the communicationbetween the siphon and said chamber.

18. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons having uptakelimbs communicating with the several tank chambers, a common dischargeconduit connected with the downtake limbs of all the siphons, means forexhausting air from the siphons, means for operatively connecting theaforesaid means with any one of the siphons at pomts 1n the severalsiphons between the common conduit and the tank chamber, valve means forclosing each siphon against entrance of air and againstintercommunication with other siphons through the common conduit whileair is being exhausted from the siphon, siphon-breaker lines connectedwith the several siphons, and siphonbreaker valves'in saidsiphon-breaker lines.

19. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons communicatingwith the several tank chambers, means for exhausting air from thesiphons, means for ope 'atively connecting the afore said means with anyone of the siphons exclusively, siphon-breaker lines connected with theseveral siphons, siphon-breaker valves in said siphon-breaker lines,manual control means for said siphon-breaker valves, thermal meansadapted to bring about automatic opening of said siphon-breaker valves,and a controlbox door to which the valves of all said siphon-breakerlines are related in such manner that said valves must be open when thedoor is closed.

20. In a system for discharging liquid from any one of a plurality oftank chambers by siphon action, a plurality of siphons communicatingwith the several tank chambers, means for exhausting air from thesiphons, means for operatively connecting the aforesaid means with anyone of the siphons, siphon-breaker lines connected with the siphons andrunning in two sets to opposite ends of the tank, siphon-breaker valvesin the remote portions of the two sets of siphon-breaker lines, manualmeans for controlling each set of siphon-breaker valves, and thermalmeans adapted to bring about opening of the valves of each set.

' AUGUSTINE DAVIS, JR.

